they’re pretty interesting
from poison that disappears the moment the fruit is ripe, to attracting wasps that kill insects, to starving caterpillars that start eating them.
Have you ever touched a tomato plant? The smell is amazing. It’s also sticky.
They’re closely related to potato plants ( nightshade ) and if you didn’t know, potatoe plants make “tomatoes” if you let them flower.
Hold the fucking phone
I’ve been growing both these plants for years. And i had no idea about this. Potatoes growing tomatoes? I might need to see this for myself. I assume they’re anaemic little things, but still.
Love the smell of toms of course, i didnt know that was a defense mechanism, i thought they just kinda had that smell.
phtheven@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Wait but I’ve eaten green tomatoes? Are they only safe when they’re fried? Or is it more of a mildly sore tummy situation?
Feel free to elaborate on those insect interactions if you feel like it, those sound useful as a gardener.